Providing electronic components for circuity assembly

Abstract

Electronic components are provided for connection in electronic circuits being manufactured on a production line. A supply of component blanks is provided, and each of the electronic components is formed by removing material from one of the blanks. The electronic component is delivered for connection in a corresponding one of the electronic circuits. The steps of forming and delivering the electronic component are coordinated with the manufacture of the corresponding electronic circuit. Another aspect features high-volume, high-mix manufacture of electronic circuits on a production line, where the mix requires a number M of different component values within a range of values R, and N (smaller than M) different supplies of component blanks are provided, each supply suitable for making components having values within a subrange S of range R. In another aspect, operating parameters of a laser are determined automatically for use in trimming resistor blanks belonging to a common batch of blanks. In another aspect, each circuit includes an alterable component having a parameter value which can be altered and the alterable component is open-loop trimmed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for providing an electronic component for connection in a corresponding one of a plurality of electronic circuits being manufactured on a production line, comprising providing a supply of component blanks,   making a measurement of at least one of the following: a parameter of another component to be included in the corresponding one   of the electronic circuits, and   a parameter of a portion of the corresponding one of the electronic circuits,   determining from the measured parameter an an appropriate value for the electronic component,   forming said electronic component by removing material from one of said blanks to cause the blank to have the appropriate value, and   delivering said electronic component for connection in the corresponding one of said electronic circuits.     
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing N different supplies of blanks, and   forming greater than N different electronic components from said blanks, N being a number greater than zero.   
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of providing comprises providing N different supplies of resistor blanks, each supply being suitable for forming resistors having resistances within a particular range, and said step of forming comprises laser trimming said resistor blanks. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3 wherein all of the resistors required for said electronic circuits are formed by said laser trimming. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 4 wherein some of said resistors have values which do not differ among said electronic circuits. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing comprises providing a supply of resistor blanks and said step of forming comprises laser trimming one of said resistor blanks. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1, wherein the measured parameter comprises a value of resistance. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1, wherein the measured parameter comprises a voltage level. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 1, wherein the measured parameter comprises a value of capacitance. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus for providing an electronic component for connection in a corresponding one of a plurality of electronic circuits being manufactured on a production line, comprising a supply of component blanks,   means for making a measurement of at least one of the following:   a parameter of another component to be included in the corresponding one of the electronic circuits, and   a parameter of a portion of the corresponding one of the electronic circuits,   means for determining from the measured parameter an appropriate value for the electronic component,   means for forming said electronic component by removing material from one of said blanks to cause the blank to have the appropriate value, and   means for delivering said electronic component for connection in the corresponding one of said electronic circuits.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising N different supplies of component blanks wherein N is a number greater than zero.   
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a robot for mounting said electronic on said corresponding electronic circuit. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for forming comprises a laser. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the measured parameter comprises a value of resistance. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the measured parameter comprises a voltage level. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the measured parameter comprises a value of capacitance. 
     
     
       17. A method for high-rolaids, high-mix manufacture of electronic circuits on a production line, wherein the mix requires a number M of different component values within a range of values R, M being a number greater than one, comprising providing N different supplies of component blanks, N being a number greater than zero and less than M, each supply suitable for making trimmed components having values within a subrange S of range R,   making a measurement of at least one of the following: a parameter of a component to be included in each of the circuits, and   a parameter of a portion of each of the circuits, determining from the measured parameter an appropriate value in the subrange S for each of the trimmed components,     forming each of said trimmed components by selecting a component blank from one of said supplies and trimming said component blank to the appropriate value, and   delivering each of said trimmed components for connection in a corresponding one of said electronic circuits.   
     
     
       18. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of providing comprises providing N different supplies of resistor blanks and said step of forming comprises laser trimming one of said resistor blanks. 
     
     
       19. Apparatus for high-volume, high-mix manufacture of electronic circuits on a production line, wherein the mix requires a number M of different component values within a range of values R, M being a number greater than one, comprising means for providing N different supplies of component blanks, N being a number greater than zero and less than M, each supply suitable for making trimmed components having values within a subrange S of range R,   means for making a measurement of at least one of the following: a parameter of a component to be included in each of the circuits, and   a parameter of a portion of each of the circuits, means for determining from the measured parameter an appropriate value in the subrange s for each of the trimmed components,     means for forming each of said trimmed components by selecting a component blank from one of said supplies and trimming said component blank to the appropriate value, and   means for delivering each of said trimmed components for connection in a corresponding one of said electronic circuits.   
     
     
       20. A method of manufacturing electronic circuits on a production line, each circuit including an alterable component having a parameter value which can be altered, said method comprising providing a supply of the alterable components, and   for each electronic circuit on the production line, making a measurement of at least one of the following: a parameter of another component to be included in the circuit, and   a parameter of a portion of the circuit, determining from the measured parameter an appropriate value for the alterable component,     selecting an alterable component from the supply,   removing material from the alterable component to cause it to have the appropriate value, and   connecting the alterable component from which the material has been removed into the circuit.   
     
     
       21. The method of claim 20 further comprising after removing material from the alterable component, measuring the actual value of the alterable component, and   determining an appropriate value for another component to be connected in the circuit based on the actual value of the alterable component.     
     
     
       22. The method of claim 20 wherein the removing is done by laser trimming. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 20 wherein the alterable component comprises a resistor. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 20 wherein said electronic circuits comprise power converters. 
     
     
       25. The method of claim 20 wherein the electronic circuits being fabricated on the production line include identical circuits. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 20 wherein the electronic circuits being fabricated on the production line include different circuits. 
     
     
       27. A method of manufacturing power converters moving along an automated production line, each converter including a trimmable resistor, said method comprising providing a supply of the trimmable resistors at a station along the production line, and   for each converter that approaches the station on the production line:   making a measurement of a parameter of another component to be included in the converter,   determining from the measured parameter an appropriate resistance for the trimmable resistor,   selecting a trimmable resistor from the supply,   laser trimming the trimable resistor to the appropriate resistance, and   connecting the trimmed resistor into the converter.